Beginning January 2013, single-use plastic carryout bags won’t be allowed at most stores selling packaged food in Alameda County, and customers will have to pay for their paper bags at the checkout counter. The Reusable Bag Ordinance, adopted by Alameda County Waste Management Authority in January of 2012, is an effort to reduce waste in the county and targets stores that traditionally distribute a high volume of single-use plastic bags.

Affected establishments include supermarkets, liquor stores, pharmacies and other convenience stores such as mini marts. Under the new ordinance, store owners will be required to charge their customers the minimum fee of 10 cents per paper bag and will also be allowed to retain the profit.

“It’s sort of the way– the direction a lot of the counties are moving in,” said Ken Appel, manager of the Safeway in Rockridge. “I think everybody knows that it’s for the environment, so they are okay with it. Safeway has been doing it in San Francisco, so we already have the program to roll out and provide training for our employees.”